Behind the Axe: Timbers finally sign their man, Jose Adolfo Valencia

Portland TimbersThere will be another player wearing the Timbers crest after the team officially signed Jose Adolfo Valencia, a player the team has been targeting for some time. There are rumors of more signings to come, but adding Valencia to a budding group of young talent could give opposing goalkeepers fits for many years.

One of the worst kept secrets within the Portland Timbers was finally announced last week when the club signed its second Designated Player and first under the new terms of the 2012 program, Colombian forward Jose Adolfo Valencia. I had decided to spend some vacation time with my wife away from the work and soccer world when my phone exploded with messages of the announcement proving once again that certain news waits for no one, even if the downtime was necessary.

Granted, it had long been rumored that Valencia was linked to the Timbers especially after his Colombian club, Independiente Santa Fe, had announced on Twitter that he was leaving once contract terms were agreed upon. As with many international signings, there are plenty of hurdles that require diligence, research, proper paperwork, and the correct approvals from football foundations in order to make it happen, but for the Timbers, this could be one of the biggest signings for the MLS club.

With Valencia just celebrating his 20th birthday on December 18, he qualifies for the lower figure on the Timbers' 2012 salary budget. The Timbers will now have two Designated Players on their roster and they are both from Colombia, as Diego Chará was signed as the team's first Designated Player last year. The Timbers also have fellow Colombian Jorge Perlaza on the roster, meaning Valencia will have plenty of countrymen surrounding him assisting in the acclimation process.

Valencia also comes from a lineage of soccer success, as his father is a well known futból legend. Adolfo Valencia enjoyed a sixteen year playing career with stops in Germany, Colombia, Italy and the United States; Valencia played in MLS in New York for the then New York MetroStars (now New York Red Bulls) from 2000 to 2001 so he has experience playing in America. Valencia was also part of the 1998 Colombian National Team that qualified for the World Cup Final, the last time they had qualified to participate in the final rounds of the momentous worldwide tournament.

Based upon video and articles I've found in researching the article, the comments about Valencia have been the same: possesses deceptive speed, is dangerous with both feet, and can score close up and from distance, but is still considered a raw and developing talent. I believe that he will give the Timbers another dynamic scoring option up top, and could provide immeasurable support for Darlington Nagbe and Bright Dike on the attack. A lineup with Valencia and Dike at the forwards with Nagbe and Marcelin in the middle surrounded by midfield wings Zizzo and Alhassan could give MLS goalkeepers headaches, especially knowing that the core of this group is between 21 and 25 years old.

Kawulok and Richards were key components to the Timbers U-23 undefeated season and eventual PDL Championship run in 2010. The Timbers will also join the rest of MLS in the MLS Super Draft on January 12 and the Supplemental Draft on January 17 which could yield additional young talent to help fill weaknesses amongst the Timbers stable of players. Could the Timbers be targeting one of these names that could become a key contributor to their 2012 run for the playoffs?